Cardinal O'Malley Reports on the Work of the Commission for the Protection of MinorsVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - February 9, 2015 ... of the Roman Curia and for newly appointed bishops who come to Rome from throughout the world, for orientation programs sponsored by the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The Commission is also preparing materials for a Day of Prayer for all those who have been harmed by sexual abuse. Such an activity underscores our responsibility to work for spiritual healing and also helps raise consciousness among the Catholic community about ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2015/02/cardinal-omalley-reports-on-work-of.html

Paris, Francis, Dave, NIck and Eric - A Retrospective for CharlieCATHOLIC COMMENTARY - January 19, 2015 ... passage of time since the events in Paris, and the on-going discussion in the news media and among political leaders, it has become possible to ask more searching questions about the extent to which the right to freedom of expression extends. I think, for example, that to see the overwhelming response of the French people (and others) in the huge march through Paris and in other gatherings throughout the country, as being in support of freedom of expression ...http://rccommentary2.blogspot.com/2015/01/paris-francis-dave-nick-and-eric.html

Rebuilding the Country Means Rebuilding the Person: The Pope at the Conference on HaitiVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - January 12, 2015 ... between bishops and with bishops, who are the first ones responsible for the service of charity. Communion among the various charisms and charitable institutions, since none of us works for or by themselves, but rather in the name of Christ who has shown us the way of service. It would be a contradiction to live charity apart from one another! I invite you therefore to strengthen every possible means of working together. Ecclesial communion is reflected as well in collaboration with the civil ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2015/01/rebuilding-country-means-rebuilding.html

Francis Convokes a Conference in the Vatican on Haiti, Five Years After the EarthquakeVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - January 9, 2015 ... delegates present will be received in audience by Pope Francis. In the afternoon, there will be presentations by those who work in the context of reconstruction, to enable an exchange of experiences regarding the issue of international cooperation and the priorities and criteria for future action. At the end of the meeting, Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, secretary of "Cor Unum", will give an overview of the problems that still remain to be resolved. The conference will end with a Mass celebrated ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2015/01/francis-convokes-conference-in-vatican.html

There Is No Link Between Celibacy and Clerical Sexual AbuseCRISIS MAGAZINE - December 30, 2014 ... Welby, said he dealt with issues of child sex abuse on a daily basis (my emphasis) and he anticipated that more 'bad stories' would emerge. He said: 'I would love to say there weren't, but I expect there are.' He told the BBC that it was 'becoming clearer and clearer that for many, many years things were not dealt with as they should [have been]'." Well, he has one consolation: the issue will not be clouded and confused, as it has been in the Catholic Church for years, by the ...http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CrisisMagazine/~3/eTaASV6uaOo/evidence-link-celibacy-clerical-sexual-abuse

Francis: Must the Middle East Suffer the Lack of Peace?VIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - December 23, 2014 ... needs the support and prayer of all the ecclesial community, and he launches a renewed appeal to the international community to promote a global solution to the problems of the region. "How much longer", he asks, "must the Middle East suffer from the lack of peace?". The full text of the letter is published here below: "Dear brothers and sisters: 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2014/12/francis-must-middle-east-suffer-lack-of.html

Slaves No More, but Brothers Sisters: The Pope's Message for World Day of PeaceVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - December 10, 2014 ... text of the Holy Father's Message for the 48th World Day of Peace, to be held on 1 January 2015 on the theme "Slaves no more, but brothers and sisters'': "At the beginning of this New Year, which we welcome as God's gracious gift to all humanity, I offer heartfelt wishes of peace to every man and woman, to all the world's peoples and nations, to heads of state and government, and to religious leaders. In doing so, I pray for an end to wars, conflicts and the ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2014/12/slaves-no-more-but-brothers-sisters.html

Publication of the Lineamenta of the Next Synod on the FamilyVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - December 9, 2014 ... summer. The Episcopal Conferences and the various ecclesial bodies are invited to accompany the synodal process with timely moments of prayer and celebration for the family and in preparation for the next Assembly. This should take place in particular on the occasion of the upcoming liturgical feast of the Holy Family on 28 December. In addition, the faithful are invited to recite the Holy Father's prayer for the Synod on the Family. The full text in Italian can be found at ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2014/12/publication-of-lineamenta-of-next-synod.html

The Pope at the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons: "Now Is the Time to Counter the Logic of FearVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - December 9, 2014 ... law, among others, have long banned peoples from inflicting unnecessary suffering. If such suffering is banned in the waging of conventional war, then it should all the more be banned in nuclear conflict. There are those among us who are victims of these weapons; they warn us not to commit the same irreparable mistakes which have devastated populations and creation". He continued, "Nuclear deterrence and the threat of mutually assured destruction cannot be the basis for an ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-pope-at-conference-on-humanitarian.html

Francis Denounces the Degrading Living Conditions of Many RefugeesVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - December 1, 2014 ... all! Please pray for me. Thank you!" Following the meeting, the Pope proceeded to the hospital to visit the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II, who was admitted some years ago and remains in a coma. He subsequently went to Ataturk Airport where, after farewell greetings with the local civil and religious authorities, he departed for Rome. The aircraft carrying the Holy Father landed at 6.40 p.m. Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped in the Basilica of St. Mary Major ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2014/12/francis-denounces-degrading-living.html

Why the Roman Catholic Church So Rightly Condemned the Irish Fenians...and All Other Terrorist Fanatics and RevolutionarROMAN CHRISTENDOM - November 29, 2014 ... should be perverted, to the imminent danger of their souls, and adhering to the decrees of the congregation of the General Inquisition issued in like circumstances, especially the decree of 5 July 1865, has decreed and declared that the American or Irish society called Fenian is comprised among the societies forbidden and condemned in the Constitutions of the Supreme Pontiff, and in particular by that lately issued by his Holiness, dated October 29, 1869, beginning Apostolicae Sedis in ...http://romanchristendom.blogspot.com/2014/11/why-church-so-rightly-condemned-irish.html

Francis at the Council of Europe: Imposed Peace Is Not Enough – It Must Be Loved, Free and FraternalVIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - November 25, 2014 ... years later, observed that 'the institutions which in the juridical order and in international society have the task and merit of proclaiming and preserving peace, will attain their lofty goal only if they remain continually active, if they are capable of creating peace, making peace, at every moment'. What is called for is a constant work of humanisation, for 'it is not enough to contain wars, to suspend conflicts ... An imposed peace, a utilitarian and provisional peace, is not enough. ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2014/11/francis-at-council-of-europe-imposed.html

Red Rags and the Order of MaltaFR RAY BLAKE'S BLOG - November 10, 2014 ... which as he is doing what he is supposed to do, is plain churlish. I am not sure that a EF cappa magna would fit in my Church, two right angle turns from the sacristy to the sanctuary and narrow gangways would present health and safety issues for both the wearer and the congregation. The old cappa is quite a few yards longer than the one in Paul VI's post-concilliar clothing regulations that are in force for Bishops and Cardinals in the Ordinary Form. Blood red, not white, is the proper papal ...http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2014/11/red-rags-and-order-of-malta.html

California State University: An Odd Decision on Student OrgsBYZANTINE, TEXAS - November 6, 2014 ... religious beliefs. "My understanding of an inclusive, welcoming university is to accept people based on their own beliefs." 'Absurd' Edward Whelan, President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington DC, also raised concerns. He said: "What we're seeing more broadly is part of an assault of secular progressivism on the classical liberal understanding of American society." Previously such a policy would have been viewed as "absurd", he commented, as ...http://byztex.blogspot.com/2014/11/california-state-university-odd.html

Pope Francis to the World Evangelical Alliance: "We Can Learn So Much From Each Other"VIS NEWS - HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE - November 6, 2014 ... with over 100 international organisations, giving voice to more than 400 million evangelical Christians throughout the world. The Holy Father began his address to the Alliance by emphasising that Baptism is a priceless gift from God, which we have in common. "Thanks to this gift, we no longer live a purely earthly existence; we now live in the power of the Spirit". He went on to remark that from the beginning, there have been divisions among Christians and ...http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2014/11/pope-francis-to-world-evangelical.html